RB Up-and-Comer Jhené Aiko Dishes on Her New Album

We've got all the details on her new music and why John Mayer is one of her top influences.

Even though she has more than a decade of industry experience and a successful mixtape under her belt, Jhené Aiko's career is just starting to take off. The 25-year-old singer-songwriter has teamed up with the likes of Kendrick Lamar and Drake, and is currently putting the finishing touches on her highly anticipated full-length album, Souled Out.

As a teen, she decided to pursue her career independent of a record label. Although she later signed with Def Jam in 2011, it's clear that Jhené continues to work on her own creative terms. With pared-down production, a touch of old-school RB sensibility, and a voice that's both mellow and emotionally-charged, Jhené is here to stay.

Your Tumblr is awesome! Is that how you stay connected with your fans?

Yeah! Tumblr is one of the things I use when I'm looking for inspiration. I like it a lot more than Twitter because you can compile music, photos, and everything else—it's a great way to show my fans what I'm really interested in.

What is your songwriting process like?

I don't just throw words out there—I sing about the things I really believe in, and things that have actually happened, so it takes a lot out of me to write one song. I'm a firm believer in telling my story and writing it all myself. It's hard for me to sing someone else's lyrics because I have so much I want to say and so much I want to express.

You've been described as a "female Frank Ocean." How would you describe your sound?

That's always a hard question, because I think it's just me being me. I grew up in the '90s listening to a lot of RB and hip hop, and then stuff like Alanis Morissette and Fiona Apple. It's melodic, and an easy-going type of sound—I think you could definitely compare me to Frank Ocean, or even a younger Sade.

You've already had a considerable music career at this point. How has your sound evolved?

I was 12 years old when I got my deal with Sony Epic, and at that point I knew that I wanted to sing but wasn't really into being an artist. Since then, I've gone through more in life and am still coming into myself. I've combined my love for writing with my singing, and that's what you hear now—just me telling my stories.

Musically, who do you look up to?

I've always looked up to my older sisters, who sang in a group called Gyrl when I was younger. Then there's Brandy—even as a six-year-old, I knew I loved her voice. As I got older and really fell in love with songwriting, John Mayer became one of my biggest inspirations. I can listen to him all day because I love how he tells his stories and the way he uses his words. People never expect that until I tell them—then it's like, "Oh! I can see that." I would love to do a collaboration with him.

What are you most excited about this summer?

Right now, I'm really focused on finishing the album. It's going to have some very nice features on it—although, I don't want to confirm any of them right now! No I.D. produced a lot of the songs on this album, and lyrically I'm trying to be very open and honest about who I am.

Hopefully, I'll be on tour after that! I love performing for people, and I'm so excited for everyone to hear the new music. But mostly, I'll be going with the flow—whatever happens, I'll be sure to appreciate whatever comes my way.